Australian Labor Women’s Conference recognizes Armenian Genocide

The Australian Labor Party’s (ALP) National Labor Women’s Conference resolved to "recognize the genocides of the Armenians, Hellenes and Assyrians from 1915 to 1923 as one of the greatest crimes against humanity" in a landmark resolution adopted in Brisbane, Queensland, reported the Armenian National Committee of Australia.

In line with the conference theme ‘Labor Women: Lead, Challenge, Inspire’, delegates from ALP branches all over the country also recognized the fact that the genocides of the Armenians, Hellenes and Assyrians are an integral part of the Australian story, where Australian women led, challenged and inspired others to provide aid to the survivors of these genocides.

Conference delegate Sofia Kotanidis, who introduced the resolution, said: “Recognition and education are also the best means to cultivate understanding, of the past and of the present. Understanding prevents the development of the hatred that leads to genocide.”

“Only by learning about the crimes of the past can we avoid repeating them. This is why the Jewish Holocaust, the Australian Aboriginal experience and other genocides are part of the Australian secondary and tertiary education system.”

ANC Australia Executive Director Varant Meguerditchian said: “Australian women were at the forefront of efforts to raise funds and provide aid for genocide survivors and so it is fitting that the National Women’s Labor Conference has now become the driving force for recognition of the Armenian, Hellenic and Assyrian Genocides.”

“The decision of the National Women’s Labor Conference to recognize the Armenian, Hellenic and Assyrian Genocides, paves the way for the ALP to adopt the resolution as party policy.”